Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has confessed to hoping for rain during President Donald Trump’s upcoming military parade, which is set to take place on Saturday in Washington, D.C. The parade, coinciding with the 2,500th anniversary of the United States Army and Trump’s 79th birthday, is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of people. Walz, a Democrat, humorously admitted to this desire during a discussion at the Center for American Progress (CAP), where he expressed that he had never hoped for rain so much in his life. This sentiment was shared as part of his discussion with CAP CEO Neera Tanden, where he discussed his criticism of Trump’s leadership, which he has labeled as ‘marching towards authoritarianism.’
The parade comes amid heightened regional tensions, with Israel launching a preemptive strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, followed by Iran’s missile retaliation. Walz, who previously ridiculed Tesla’s stock drop and showed disapproval of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has now expressed concerns about Trump’s leadership and the parade itself. Walz, who was running mate for Kamala Harris during her 2024 presidential campaign, has criticized Trump on several occasions, including his handling of the situation that led to the removal of Sen. Alex Padilla from a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) press conference.
Walz also confirmed that he would participate in a ‘No Kings’ protest in St. Paul, Minnesota, during the parade. He dismissed allegations that the protest was funded by Chinese entities, stating it was organized by local residents. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., has accused Walz of being a ‘prime target for influence operations’ by China, citing his involvement with the protest. Walz, however, has maintained that he is there to counter Trump’s parade, which he believes ‘just looks wrong, feels wrong.’ This event, with its potential for rain and protests, is set to be a significant political and public spectacle in Washington, D.C.